62 



longer there, and I think that is dangerous for American agri- 

 culture. 



Mr. Stenholm. I really don't have any additional questions for 

 any of these witnesses. 



I would say, regarding the potato issue, I am inclined to include 

 potatoes with any other crop and would be inclined to consider any 

 varietal protection. 



Ms. Shand, you are going to have to convince me that agriculture 

 can afford to move further away from protecting individuals as well 

 as companies from developing new varieties with a cost that is as- 

 sociated with development of new varieties and with the cost asso- 

 ciated with developing of varieties that are insect resistant that 

 can help us with pesticide usage, et cetera. 



That you and — I believe, if I read correctly — the National Farm- 

 ers Union position is much the same, as you have indicated today. 

 So we have two testifying of some caution in this area. And I share 

 the caution, but I also see economic realities. 



I am seeing it all over the State of Texas. Smaller companies 

 that were in the business of developing regionally attractive vari- 

 eties are out of the business. They cannot afford the researchers 

 and all of that which goes into it, and we are losing tremendous 

 amounts of environmentally friendly varieties, and I don't see how 

 anything other than that continuing, unless we allow the individ- 

 ual that develops that right reasonable protection. If we don't, I 

 don't see where anybody is going to be in the business. That is the 

 fundamental problem. 



You have acknowledged that in your testimony, also, your con- 

 cerns about it, and I share the concerns because I don't want to see 

 monopolies created, and I don't want to see our producers unfairly 

 taken advantage of, which can happen very easily. 



I thank each of you for your testimony. 



As we get into markup, which will occur after the Memorial Day 

 break, as soon as we can schedule. There seems to be some discus- 

 sion as to whether we will mark up in subcommittee or in full com- 

 mittee, but, either way, we intend to promptly move in regard to 

 addressing this legislation with the questions that have been raised 

 today. 



And so as each of you have heard all of the witnesses today, if 

 you have suggestions for improvement in H.R. 2927, which we have 

 had suggestions, we will certainly welcome them, and appreciate 

 your input and thank you for being here and being a constructive 

 part of this hearing today. 



With no further business to come before the subcommittee, we 

 will stand adjourned. 



[Whereupon, at 4:15 p.m., the subcommittee was adjourned, to 

 reconvene subject to the call of the Chair.] 



[Material submitted for inclusion in the record follows:] 



